Cover Image: The Last Chance Library

The Last Chance Library

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

Was this review helpful?

A story line about saving a library? Of course I want to read this. June Jones lives in a quiet village and spends her days working at the library and helping patrons find the perfect books but perhaps her life has seemed to be on hold for too long because since her mom died, she hasn’t left the village and can’t seem to find her sense of purpose.

However when the town council is threatening to shut down the library in favor of a bookmobile, June panics about the patrons and what will become of them as for many of them the library is the one constant in their lives. Before too long June is caught up in activism to save the library and soon she realizes that there is a lot more to a library than shelving books but also forming a community.

Not only that but June’s childhood friend, Alex Chen, is back in town and June slowly starts to find herself relying more on his help. While this may be a bit of a predictable read, there were some very funny moments with some of the library patrons, and just the idea of a group coming together to save a library makes for a cozy read. This is my first read by this author but I look forward to reading more.

Was this review helpful?

If you ever loved a library then this book is for you. June works at the library when they get notice that it will be shut down. Rather than accept the fate of the library June and some of the people who visit the library protest it. They stay in the library. Let people in the community know. They get people to remember why the library is needed.

This is one of those happy books that shows the power of books.

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed myself well enough while reading this but the characters quickly evaporated from my mind when I was done. Recommended as a fun, quick enough getaway.

Was this review helpful?

A great story about a small town library and what it really means to the community it serves! As a former librarian I definitely felt all the feels reading this sweet story. Although there were a few parts that tugged at your heartstrings. The setting, the characters and the storyline certainly will keep your attention. Ty #NetGalley for the ARC all opinions are my own.#TheLastChanceLibrary

Was this review helpful?

Charming, sweet, and a love letter to libraries. Perfectly heartwarming, lovely representation - but a little slow and sleepy.

Was this review helpful?

3.5 ⭐

June Jones has given up her dream of going to college, a writing career, and life outside of her small town to take care of her mother when she was diagnosed with cancer. Now, eight years later, she is quietly navigating the grief of losing her mother...living in her childhood home, with all of her mothers books, knick-knacks, and old cat...working at the small local library that her mother worked at for decades. June deals with feeling shy, awkward, and like a failure for not having experienced life away from her small town.

When the library faces closure, June realizes that the safe, predictable life she knows is being threatened. But more than that, she realizes that the safe place for many in her community is being threatened. So, along with a small handful of the loyal patrons, June takes a stand to save it.

This was an easy, quick read. The plot was predictable, but enjoyable. I loved the characters and related to June (as I am a library worker and am dealing with grief of my own and know how paralyzing it can be). I loved the descriptions of classic books, the community coming together, the love and acceptance, and all of the characters.

Was this review helpful?

I love a good book about a library. I love quirky characters. Put them together and you would think I would love this book. I'm not even writing a full review but it was just plain boring.

Was this review helpful?

This is a sweet novel about finding yourself and your place in the community. June is a small town librarian who just wants to live her quiet little life. Very introverted, grieving her mother’s death and isolated from society she has no interest in mingling or making friends. She cares about books, her cat, and her library. When the library is threatened with closure, she breaks out of her comfort zone to campaign with other library lovers to save the library. She discovers new people, ideas and a way to look at her life and herself.
June is a very sweet likeable character. I enjoyed how her love of books gives her the strength to change and open up to others. The other characters range from quirky and loveable to downright awful. The writing and style is light, simple and easily understood. It feels like a soft swishy pillow of cuteness.
I received this book as an ARC, Thank you NetGalley and Berkley books. A Shy introverted book lover saving the local library? How could I resist! If you love books, libraries, and personal dynamics this book is for you.

Was this review helpful?

The characters in this book were the absolute best. I love how June grows throughout the story. The romance was cute.

Was this review helpful?

Content warnings: loss of a parent, cancer, loss of a friend, estranged children, bullying

June Jones' life has been on pause since her librarian mother died of cancer. She's still working at the library as an assistant and enjoys helping the locals who frequent it. When the local council announces that they plan on closing the library to save money, June is saddened for her community.

June does everything she can to help the library succeed but becomes even more worried when she uncovers a scheme to sell the library building to a major corporation. To save the library, June must uncover the plot and find hard evidence to present to the locals.

June's story takes several unexpected turns throughout, and eventually she learns that it's okay to take risks and embrace the twists and turns. June's story is an interesting one, but the novel fails to make the reader invested in her journey.

Representation: Asian side character, elderly side character, homeless side character, teenage side character, Middle Eastern side character

Was this review helpful?

I sincerely enjoyed this book. At times it was a love letter to books. It was just the cozy, small-town, British, heartwarming read I needed.

I loved the charm of Chalcot as well as all the library patrons who just burst to life off the page. It was difficult at times to see how little June believed in herself, and how she struggled to see her worth as a human and all the positives she brings to the table. But I loved seeing her evolve and grow more confident throughout the battle to save the library.

There are some heavy things the characters deal with, particularly the individual grief journeys of June, Stanley, and Vera, but even through your tears (yes I cried), this little book brings comfort.

If you're a fan of Jenny Colgan, Lia Louis, cute British towns, and books about books, I'd definitely recommend picking this one up.

Was this review helpful?

This was a sweet, heartwarming read! I’m a goner for libraries, patrons, and books about books, so this was right up my alley, and I’m glad I gave it a read. Though June wasn’t always my favorite, I’m glad she managed to find her voice, and my heart expanded just watching the villagers come together to keep their library from closing.

Was this review helpful?

I originally started reading this book because I work in a library and, to be honest, I love anything library-related. That includes books. I have to tell you, I had a really tough time getting into this book. I felt like the plot and the dialogue dragged and the backstory was just, meh. Maybe it is me. I do not usually read this genre so this book was way out of left field for me, but I thought it sounded interesting. Too bad I was disappointed. I do think that other patrons of the library who like this genre should give it a chance. They would probably enjoy it.

Was this review helpful?

A lovely gem of a novel, featuring a reclusive librarian who comes out of her shell to rally the community when the library is threatened.

Was this review helpful?

The Last Chance Library is, yes, about libraries and what they mean to people. But it is also about a young woman, who is paralyzed by the death of her mother and stuck in a life that won't change--until it does and that is the premise of this book. It is a story of a woman finding her voice and speaking out and instead of floating through life, takes charge of it and confronts it. It takes place in rural England, but could take place in America too and the books that are mentioned in the book, I think would be recognizable to people in both countries. This is an enjoyable read and makes every librarian proud of her/his profession.

Was this review helpful?

this book was not overly original or groundbreaking. I’m certain that I’ve read several books in the last few years where a lonely library worker has to save the library from closures, with a cast of characters who all need the library. You can guess
the ending of this story before it begins. However, this still ended up being charming and giving me all the feels by the end.

Was this review helpful?

Absolutely adored this one. I ended up listening to the audiobook, and it was great. This is one of my all time top books, and I am so glad to read it. The small town, cozy vibes were just what I needed from this. The writing was easy to follow, and not complicated, but still very intriguing. The side characters were also fantastic and added a lot to the story.

Was this review helpful?

I love a book about books and book people (don't we all?) so I knew I would love this. June is a delightfully charming main character, and her supporting cast is just as lovable.

Was this review helpful?

This wasn't quite a home run for me because I had read several OMG Amazing books recently, but it was perfectly pleasant.

Was this review helpful?